Blue Cohosh - Caulophyllum thalictroides

·        Blue Cohosh. [Date Accessed: July 9, 2008].

 

Nomenclature:

·        Caulophyllum thalictroides

·        Family: Berberidaceae

 

Botany and Ecology:

·        Habitat: rich woods, frequently found in woodlands with mixed deciduous and rich, calcareous forests

·        Soil:  Rich, moist, neutral to slightly acidic soils, consistently moist, that do not dry out.

·        Structure:  Spreading and bushy when mature, thrice-compound leaves with lobed leaflets being purplish in color in spring.  Loosely branched clusters of purplish-brown to yellow-green flowers, bright blue berries follow the flowers. 

·        Perennial herb, blooms early spring, April thru May

·        Propagation: The 6 stamens and central pistil mature at different times to insure cross pollination.  Early solitary bees are attracted to pollinate, by fleshy nectar glands.  Scarifying seeds by nicking the seed coat will quicken germination, seeds are blue/black once they are ripe.  Blue cohosh should be grown from seed but will not flower until 3 or 4 years, can be divided but not recommended, once plants are established they should be left alone.  They spread slowly by rhizomes to form colonies.  A heavy winter coat of mixed leaves should be left on the plants in the spring. 

·        Distribution:

o       United States: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV

o       Canada: MB, NB, NS, ON, QC

 

Uses:

·        Edible:

o       Coffee substitute

·        Medicinal:

o       Root is a diuretic, diaphoretic, and a sedative

o       An infusion of the root in water is taken before childbirth to ease the birthing process, could possibly cause a miscarriage or early delivery if taken by women in early stages of pregnancy; taken for profuse menstruation

o       Root ooze can be held in the mouth to ease toothaches

o       Can be taken to treat pelvic inflammatory disease, gout, and rheumatism

o       Should not be given to people with heart disease or hypertension

o       Consuming the plant has resulted in toxicity in one report

 

Conservation:

·        Conservation status: Apparently Secure – It is currently unknown how much impact the pressure of selling this product on the market will have on the plant population. Speculated to be declining globally due to collection pressure

·        http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Caulophyllum+thalictroides. [Date Accessed: July 9, 2008].

 

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